A further one-game sanction has been suspended for two years and the manager is prevented from entering the dressing room or making any communication with players or staff during the match at the Camp Nou, or in the subsequent match. If City are knocked out, the ban will carry over into next season.

Pellegrini made the comments after City's 2-0 defeat to Barça last week. Despite apologising later, Uefa found him guilty. In a statement the governing body said: "Uefa's control and disciplinary body has banned Manchester City head coach Manuel Pellegrini for three Uefa competition games, one of which is under probation for two years."

Pellegrini is hoping for a better reception from City's support during Sunday's Capital One Cup final against Sunderland than the one he received in last season's FA Cup final. Then, his prospective appointment as Roberto Mancini's successor was greeted by abusive chants, despite City losing to Wigan Athletic.

Asked what has changed since then, Pellegrini said: "Well I hope at least the songs. I think Mancini deserved the support of the fans because he won the title here for the first time in 44 years.

"Everyone knows how passionate Manchester City [fans] are. So I give my congratulations to their support, but also I felt that from the moment I arrived here they accepted what the club did and they are very happy with the team this year, the way we play and to be again in another final. So I am absolutely sure that all the supporters of Manchester City will back our team and be supporting the whole match."